Apparatus for the discontinuous preparation of portioned pasta products and apparatus for portioning a predetermined amount of long-stemmed pasta products

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the discontinuous preparation of portioned pasta products, in particular spaghetti, with a supply container to receive the raw products, a cooking chamber (1) and a draining chamber (2), wherein the cooking chamber (1) and the draining chamber (2) can each be closed by valves in their inlet region (1E, 1A) and outlet region (2A), the overall height of the apparatus being kept small by constructing the valves in the inlet region (1E) of the cooking chamber (1) and the outlet region (2A) of the draining chamber (2) as shut-off flaps (3, 4) that can be moved linearly in a direction transverse to the inlet and outlet direction and are spaced apart from the chamber wall containing the respective opening (1E, 2A) during this movement, and that to close the openings at the end of the linear movement, the shut-off flaps (3, 4) are pressed against the respective chamber (1, 2) in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening by means of a lever mechanism (36, 37A, 37B).

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for the discontinuous preparationof portioned pasta products, in particular spaghetti, with a supplycontainer to receive the raw products, a cooking chamber and a drainingchamber, Wherein the cooking and draining chambers can each be closed byvalves in their inlet and outlet regions, and in addition an apparatusfor portioning a predetermined amount of long-stemmed pasta products, inparticular spaghetti, and transferring them into the cooking chamber ofthe former apparatus.

Apparatus for the discontinuous preparation of portioned pasta productshave been designed in many different ways. Their purpose is to prepare aportioned amount of raw pasta product in the shortest possible time, andtherefore they are employed in food-dispensing automats. One such knownapparatus is disclosed in WO 90/04345. There the raw products situatedabove a cooking chamber are delivered in portions into the cookingchamber, the chamber is closed, and the pasta products are cooked at apreset temperature and corresponding pressure for a relatively shorttime. The cooked pasta products then leave the chamber along with thecooking water and pass into a connected draining chamber where the wateris removed. Finally they are transferred to a suitable receptacle, forexample a plate.

The cooking chamber is closed by two ball valves, one in the inletregion and the other in the outlet region, an arrangement that bothallows filling and emptying of the cooking chamber and also, during thecooking process, guarantees that the cooking chamber is securely sealed.However, because ball valves operate with relatively high friction, theyare extremely sluggish and a degree of force is needed to actuate them,so that as a rule pneumatic actuators are employed. Another disadvantageof ball valves is that they are relatively tall components, so that theyincrease the overall height of the above-mentioned apparatus. Finally,the use of a ball valve in the outlet region of the cooking chamber isnot optimal because the pasta products--now cooked and hencedelicate--can be damaged when passing through the valve.

It is therefore the object of the invention to design and develop anapparatus for discontinuous preparation of portioned pasta products ofthe kind cited above in such a way that the above-mentioneddisadvantages are avoided and, in particular, the overall height of thewhole apparatus, determined substantially by the vertically stackedelements supply container, cooking chamber and draining chamber, is keptas small as possible. Furthermore, it is desired that the cookedproducts be passed on to the consumer in as nearly undamaged a state aspossible. Finally, the apparatus is to be made simple in construction soas to ensure that after a cooking process no remnants of pasta are leftwithin the chambers.

This object is achieved in a first embodiment of the invention byconstructing the valves in the inlet region of the cooking chamber andin the outlet region of the draining chamber in the form of shut-offflaps that slide transversely with respect to the input and outputdirections in a linear motion, while spaced apart from the associatedchamber wall in which the opening is disposed, and by moving theshut-off flaps into the closed position at the end of the linear motionby means of a lever mechanism that presses the flap against the openingof the associated chamber in a direction perpendicular to the plane ofthe opening. In respect of the apparatus for portioning a predeterminedamount of long-stemmed pasta product, the problem is solved inaccordance with the invention in that the products are storedhorizontally in at least one funnel-shaped container, that a dosingplate of adjustable height is provided at the bottom of eachfunnel-shaped container, that the stored products are divided intoportions by separating out a desired amount thereof with a separationplate disposed above each dosing plate, and that a delivery vessel thatcan be pivoted over 90 ( is provided in the region below each dosingplate and serves to load the cooking chamber.

The known ball valve is thus replaced, in accordance with the invention,by a linearly displaceable shut-off flap that is first shifted laterallyand only thereafter is pressed against the corresponding chamberopening. This pressing is accomplished by a lever mechanism, so that thedriving power can be made extremely small for both the linear motion andthe lever movement. As a result, the height of the valve components inthe apparatus in accordance with the invention is very favorable, sothat the overall height of the apparatus becomes small enough to enableconvenient handling of the automat equipped with the apparatus inaccordance with the invention. It is possible to achieve an overallheight of little more than one meter.

In a further development of the invention, only a single motor isprovided to move the shut-off flap in both directions, i.e. thehorizontal linear displacement and the vertical pressing direction. Forthis purpose, as additionally taught by the invention, it has provedespecially advantageous to provide a sliding clutch so that when theshut-off flap has reached its final position for closure, the flapitself stays in that position although linear movement of the drivingmeans is continued in order to actuate the lever mechanism. In this wayrapid and secure closure can be guaranteed without elaborateconstruction.

As still another development of the invention, in the outlet region ofthe cooking chamber and in the inlet region of the draining chamberthere is provided a single valve in the form of a pivoted shut-off flap,which is closed and locked by means of a linear drive and anarticulated-lever mechanism. In this case it is advisable for the flapto be disposed inside the draining chamber, to ensure that the cookingchamber will be completely emptied. The linear drive means for thisvalve is preferably disposed outside the draining chamber.

The use of an articulated-lever mechanism is especially important,because here again a drive motor of relatively small dimensions isdesirable and the articulated-lever construction isolates the motor fromthe high pressures of several bar that are generated in the cookingchamber during cooking.

Cooking chambers closed with the shut-off flaps described above havebeen shown to withstand pressures up to 50 bar, although in subsequentoperation such high pressures are very unlikely to occur. As the lineardrive means, in a preferred embodiment a piston/cylinder unit isprovided.

To obtain optimal sealing in accordance with the invention, all shut-offvalves and/or chamber walls in the plane of the opening are providedwith sealing elements. In this regard it is advisable that there bedisposed in the region of each chamber opening a sealing element matchedin shape to the contour of the opening.

It is especially advantageous that the openings be made round in crosssection, and that O-rings be provided as sealing elements. The O-ringsemployed here have a relatively long service life, because all theshut-off flaps are set onto the openings in a nearly perpendiculardirection so that no shearing off, pinching or slippage can occur.Furthermore, when the shut-off flap is open, O-rings are easilyexchangeable.

It was mentioned above that the height of the portioning apparatus inaccordance with the invention is also extremely small. The reason isthat the horizontally stored raw pasta products, such as spaghetti orthe like, are discharged into delivery vessel, disposed beside the wallof the supply container, which tilts them from the horizontal into avertical position. According to another teaching of the invention, twosupply containers are provided, their two parallel walls being spacedapart from one another in such a way as to create a space between thetwo supply containers within which the delivery vessel can pivot.

This arrangement ensures that even with long pasta products, such asspaghetti, the floor of the supply container(s) can be disposed onlyslightly above the opening of the cooking chamber.

When the apparatus in accordance with the invention is in operation, theheat within the cooking chamber cannot be completely dissipated; as aresult, it can happen that the normally relatively rigid pasta productsacquire a somewhat softer consistency. In order that a specific volumeof raw products can nevertheless be separated without destroying ordamaging the raw pasta products, according to a further teaching of theinvention a separation plate with a rounded edge is provided, and whenthe separation plate has been inserted into the supply container, itsrounded edge rests above a projection without touching the wall of thesupply container.

This is a reliable means of preventing any crushing or breakage of theproducts due to the mechanical action of the separation plate. It hasproved unnecessary for the separation plate to touch either the opposingwall or the projection attached to this wall; instead, it isparticularly useful for the distance between the separation plate pushedinto the supply container and the projection to correspond approximatelyto the diameter of the pasta products being processed. That is, thearrangement prevents further products from slipping out after thedesired amount has been removed, inasmuch as the products resting on theprojection reliably "plug" the gap between projection and separationplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention is explained in greater detail includingdescription of additional characteristics and advantages as well asexamples of preferred embodiments, with reference to the attacheddrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing to show the function of the apparatus inaccordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a closure valve of the apparatus in accordance with theinvention in perspective view,

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the closure device according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the closure valve between cookingchamber and draining chamber,

FIG. 5 shows the shut-off flap and the articulated-lever mechanism ofFIG. 4 in greater detail,

FIG. 6 shows a portioning apparatus in accordance with the invention incross section along the line VI--VI in FIG. 7, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of the portioning apparatus according toFIG. 6 in plan view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus in accordance with the inventionwill now be described in detail. The apparatus consists substantially ofa cooking chamber 1 with a cooking-chamber inlet 1E and acooking-chamber outlet 1A. It is not shown here that above the cookingchamber 1 a portioning apparatus is disposed, from which the cookingchamber 1 is loaded. Below the cooking chamber 1 is a draining chamber2, the inlet to which is identical with the outlet 1A from the cookingchamber. At the floor of the draining chamber 2 is a draining-chamberoutlet 2A. In accordance with the invention the cooking chamber 1 can beclosed in its inlet region 1E by a linearly displaceable shut-off flap3, and the outlet region 2A of the draining chamber 2 can be closed by alinearly displaceable shut-off flap 4.

The actual preparation process is as follows:

After the predetermined amount of pasta products has been put into thecooking chamber 1, which has already been closed in its lower region,i.e. the outlet region 1A, the top of the cooking chamber 1 is closed bymeans of the linearly displaceable shut-off flap 3. From a fresh-watersupply 5, by way of a pipe 6 and an opened stop valve 7, fresh water islet into a reservoir 8. From there the water is sent through a pipe 9 bymeans of a pump 10, passes through a reflux valve 11 with a presetpressure that can be read off from a manometer 12, and enters theheating chamber 13 that surrounds the cooking chamber 1 so as to leavean annular gap. In the space between the walls of cooking chamber 1 andheating chamber 13, heating rods 14 are disposed.

Before the actual heating process begins, enough water is put into theheating chamber 13 to fill it completely and also allow a predeterminedamount of water to pass into the cooking chamber 1, by way of a fillingpipe 15 that is equipped with a pressure-relief valve 16. When thecooking chamber 1 has been filled to the desired degree, a stop valve15A in the filling pipe 15 is closed, so that the cooking chamber 1 ishermetically sealed. In its outlet region 1A this closure is achieved bya shut-off flap 17 to be described below.

The oberpressure prevailing in the cooking chamber 1 after the actualcooking is completed is released by opening a stop valve 22 in apressure-relief pipe 18, which is connected by way of a stop valve 19 toa drainage pipe 20 that opens into a drain 21, and also connected by wayof the stop valve 22 and a pipe 23 to the draining chamber 2. With thisarrangement, the pressures in the cooking chamber 1 and draining chamber2 are brought to about the same level. After the stop valve 22 has beenclosed, the shut-off flap 17 can be opened, and the cooked pastaproducts fall into the draining chamber 2 along with the residualcooking water.

A sieve 24 disposed in the floor region of the draining chamber 2 coversthe opening leading to the pipe 23. After the stop valve 22 has beenclosed and the stop valve 25 has been opened, a drainage pump 26withdraws the water from the products in the draining chamber 2. Thesieve 24 ensures that the products do not leave the draining chamber 2.During the draining process, the excess pressure still present in thedraining chamber is relieved. This is accomplished by a pipe 27, whichis connected to the fresh-water pipe 6 by way of a stop valve 28 and isprovided with a ventilation valve 29 in the vicinity of its opening intothe draining chamber 2. Hot steam from the draining chamber 2 passesthrough a prewarming pipe 30 into the reservoir 8, where it contributesto warming the fresh water that will later be heated by the heating rods14. The prewarming pipe 30 terminates in the water pipe 20 and therebycommunicates with the drain 21.

After the pasta products have been separated from the cooking water, thefinished portion of pasta products can be released from the chamber byway of the linearly displaceable shut-off flap 4, onto a plate or thelike situated below the draining chamber 2.

It is only shown schematically that the cross section of the cookingchamber 1 expands conically downward. This construction reliablyprevents the cooked pasta products from becoming stuck in the lowerregion. Obviously the inner surfaces of the chambers 1 and 2 must besmooth and not sticky, or be provided with a suitable non-stick coating.In order to clean the draining chamber 2, after the pasta products havebeen removed and the shut-off flap 4 has been closed again, fresh wateris introduced into the draining chamber 2 by way of the pipe 6, byopening the stop valve 28. After the draining chamber 2 has been filledand the stop valve 28 closed, the stop valve 25 is opened and the pump26 activated, so that the water flows out through the sieve 24, throughthe drainage pipe 20 and into the drain 21, until the draining chamber 2is completely empty.

In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown here the shut-off flaps 3and 4 are almost identical in their construction; therefore theirfunction will be described with reference solely to shut-off flap 3, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The invention can usefully be designed in themanner exemplified by this embodiment, in which a single motor 31 isused to move the shut-off flap 3 in both directions. This motor operatesby way of a pinion 32 and a rack not shown here in detail, to producelinear motion of a carriage 33. As a result, the shut-off flap 3 ismoved over the cooking-chamber inlet 1E, shown open in FIG. 2.

After the carriage 33 has reached its end position, a sliding clutch 34incorporated into the carriage 33 causes the further linear motionproduced by the motor 31 to be used for activation of a lever mechanism.For this purpose, to the two rails 35A and 35B provided to guide thecarriage 33, which are rigidly connected to one another in a suitablemanner, there are attached guidance and locking means. Locking bolts 36are mounted on the carriage 33 in such a way that they extend towardsthe rails 35A and 35B and are brought under the slanting surfaces of thewedge-levers 37A and 37B mounted to the rails 35A and 37A, respectively.

After the linear movement of the shut-off flap 3 has been concluded, thesliding clutch 34 is activated, so that the locking bolts 36 are pressedunder the slanting surfaces of the wedge-levers 37A and 37B, which aremounted so as to pivot about a bearing point L above the cooking-chamberinlet 1E. With this arrangement, an extremely slight driving force cansuffice to press the shut-off flap 3 against the cooking chamber 1 andsecurely close the opening.

In FIG. 3 the closing process is again diagrammed. For clarity only onerail, 35A, is shown in side view above the plan view of the carriage 33.This drawing shows clearly that the movement of the shut-off flap 3 canbe guided by guide rods 38 that extend into elongated holes 39 in therails 35A and 35B. The shut-off flap 3 is shown in its closed positionin FIG. 3. Here the guide rod 38 abuts against the end of the elongatedhole 39, where an elongated recess 40 extends down toward the cookingchamber 1.

The function of the sliding clutch 34 is indicated in FIG. 3 by anarrangement not described in detail here, comprising spheres that arepressed into notches in a bolt by coil springs. Clearly, other knownkinds of sliding clutch can also be used. After the shut-off flap 3 hasreached its end position, the carriage 33 bearing the locking bolts 36continues to be moved by the motor 31, overcoming the spring tension ofthe coil springs, and proceeds forward until the locking bolts 36 havearrived in the position indicated by the dot-dash lines.

As a result, the wedge levers 37A and 37B are pivoted about the bearingpoint L, so that a large force is exerted on the shut-off flap 3, themovement of which is now guided by its guide rods 38 within the recess40. This kind of closure is particularly useful because sealing elements(not shown) disposed around the inlet opening can never be sheared offor unevenly loaded. Instead, the shut-off flap 3 at first moves over theopening of the associated chamber while spaced apart therefrom, so thata load is imposed on the sealing elements only as a result of a closingmovement perpendicular to said elements, and this load is uniformlydistributed.

FIG. 4 shows schematically that in the outlet region 1A of the cookingchamber 1 and in the inlet region of the draining chamber 2, closure isbrought about by the shut-off flap 17 and an articulated-lever mechanismdescribed in detail below. The shut-off flap 17 is moved into place by alinear drive means that is here merely represented schematically by apiston/cylinder unit. An articulated lever 42, disposed within thedraining chamber 2 so that it pivots about a bearing L, is provided atits end away from the bearing L with a clamping roller 43. Theconnection between the piston 41K and the lever 42 consists of aconnecting link 44 within which is mounted a link block 45. When thepiston is actuated, the lever is brought into the position shown bysolid lines, in which process the clamping roller 43 moves the shut-offflap 17 into the closed position and the pressure generated during thecooking process, which acts on the shut-off flap 17, is absorbed by thebearing L with no damage to the drive mechanism.

In FIG. 5 the articulated-lever mechanism to close the shut-off flap 17,as described above, is shown in greater detail. Here it can be seen thatthe shut-off flap 17 comprises not only a shut-off wedge K thatcooperates with the clamping roller 43, but also a shoulder 46 adjacentto its bearing L, which interacts with the clamping roller 43 to ensurethat when the piston 41K is pulled back, the shut-off flap 17 isreliably forced open. This movement of shut-off flap 17, articulatedlever 42 and clamping roller 43 is indicated by arrows; when it iscompleted, the shut-off flap 17 remains in the position indicated bydot-dash lines.

Covers 47 are disposed on either side of the piston 41K (of which onlythe one at the back is shown here) in such a way that the wholearticulated lever 42 with clamping roller 43 and the link assembly 44,45 lie inside the covers 47 and are shielded from the lower surface ofthe shut-off flap 17, so that they are reliably prevented from touchingthe pasta products. The drawing also shows that the clamping roller 43abuts against a stop 48, which in the preferred embodiment shown here isformed by a screw not further specified, with which the open position ofthe shut-off flap 17 can be adjustably fixed, so that in turn no load isimposed on the piston 41K.

It was mentioned above that to seal the chambers optimally, appropriatesealing elements, advantageously O-rings 49 are used, which are seatedin corresponding grooves in the regions of the various chamber openings.It can clearly be seen in FIG. 5 that the O-rings 49--as in the case ofthe shut-off flaps 3 and 4--are loaded only perpendicular to the O-ringplane. One consequence is that the service life of the O-rings isprolonged, and another is that they can easily be exchanged when theshut-off flaps 3, 4 and 17 are open.

FIGS. 6 and 7, finally, show a portioning apparatus 50 in accordancewith the invention, to portion a predetermined amount of long-stemmedpasta products and feed them into the cooking chamber 1. The portioningapparatus 50 is shown in cross section in FIG. 6. It consistssubstantially of two funnel-shaped containers 51A and 51B, equipped inthe region of their floors with a dosing plate 52 the height of whichcan be adjusted, for example by way of an elongated hole 53. The arrowsand dashed drawings of the dosing plates 52 explain their function.

For dosed delivery, the pasta products stored horizontally in thecontainers 51A and 51B and not shown here are each divided into twoamounts by means of linearly displaceable separation plates 54, oneamount being the current portion and the other, the remaining storedproducts. After the dosing plates 52 pivot downward, the pasta productsslide along guide sheets 52' into a delivery vessel 55, which in thepreferred embodiment shown here is U-shaped in cross section. To deliverthe pasta products into the cooking chamber 1, the delivery vessel 55 istilted up by 90 (, as indicated by the dot-dash lines, and the pastaproducts slide into the cooking chamber 1.

The construction in accordance with the invention allows the portioningapparatus 50 to be disposed immediately above the cooking-chamber inlet1E. With this arrangement the desired low overall height is stillfurther reduced. It is of course also possible for a portioningapparatus to be equipped with a single supply container, in which casethe delivery vessel must be mounted next to the container in such a waythat it can pivot freely.

It can clearly be seen in FIG. 6 that the containers 51A and 51B areconstructed with parallel side walls, not further specified, which arespaced apart from one another by at least an amount sufficient toproduce a free space F, the dimensions of which correspond to the widthof the delivery vessel 55 so that the latter can pivot.

Finally, FIG. 7 shows that in a further development of the inventioneach separation plate 54 has a rounded edge and that when the separationplates 54 are fully inserted into the supply containers 51A and 51B, therounded edges rest above projections 56 without touching the parallelwalls of the containers. Experiments have shown that this is anextremely effective means, and perhaps even the only means, ofportioning spaghetti or macaroni without damaging some of the pastaproducts.

The rounding is greatly exaggerated in FIG. 7; for orderly function afew millimeters' departure from a straight edge suffices. This isespecially important because the pasta products in the lower region ofthe supply container become softened by the heat rising from the cookingchamber 1. It is impossible for the pasta products, in particularspaghetti, to be crushed or cut off between the container wall and theseparation plate 54.

It is particularly useful for a gap S, of a size correspondingapproximately to the diameter of the pasta product, to be providedbetween the separation plates 54 inserted into the supply containers 51Aand 51B and the underlying projections 56. As a result, even those rawpasta products that rest in this region cannot be affected by aseparation plate 54.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for the discontinuous preparation of portionedpasta products, in particular spaghetti, with a supply container (51A,51B) to receive the raw pasta products, a cooking chamber (1) and adraining chamber (2), wherein the cooking chamber (1) and the drainingchamber (2) can each be closed by valves (3, 17, 4) in the respectiveinlets (1E, 1A) and respective outlets (1A, 2A), the valve in the outletregion (2A) of the draining chamber (2) being constructed as a shut-offflap (4) that can be linearly displaced, and a single valve (17) beingprovided in the outlet region (1A) of the cooking chamber (1) and in theinlet region of the draining chamber (2), the improvement in saidapparatus characterized in that the valves (3, 4) in the inlet region(1E) of the cooking chamber (1) and in the outlet region (2A) of thedraining chamber (2) are shut-off flaps that can be moved linearly whilespaced apart from the wall of the chamber (1, 2) containing therespective opening of the valves, in that to close the openings at theend of the linear movement, the shut-off flaps (3, 4) are pressedagainst the respective chamber (1, 2) in a direction perpendicular tothe plane of the opening by means of a lever mechanism (36, 37A, 37B),and in that the valve (17) between the outlet region of the cookingchamber (1) and the inlet region of the draining chamber (2) isconstructed as a pivotable shut-off flap (17), which is closed andlocked in place by means of a linear drive means and anarticulated-lever mechanism (42, 43).
 2. The apparatus according toclaim 1, having a single motor connected to move said shut-off flaps inboth directions.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein asliding clutch (34) is provided so that when the shut-off flap (3, 4)has reached its end position during closure, the further linear movementserves to actuate the lever mechanism (36, 37A, 37B).
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said linear drive means for the pivotableshut-off flat (17) includes a piston/cylinder unit (41).
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said draining chamber includes abearing (L), the articulated-lever mechanism (42, 43) for the pivotableshut-off flap (17) comprises an articulated lever (42) pivotably mountedin said bearing (L), a clamping roller (43) disposed at the end of thearticulated lever (42) and spaced from the bearing (L), said clampingroller (43) moving the rotatable shut-off flap (17) into its closedposition, and the pressure generated during the cooking process andacting on the rotatable shut-off flap (17) being absorbed by the bearing(L).
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotatableshut-off flap (17) comprises a closure wedge (K) to cooperate with theclamping roller (43) to establish said closed position.
 7. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein said linear drive means includes a piston, saidrotatable shut-off flap (17) including a shoulder (46), which incombination with the articulated-lever mechanism (42, 43) ensures thatduring the withdrawal movement of the piston (41K) of the linear drivemeans, the rotatable shut-off flap (17) is reliably and flexibly opened.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein on both sides of the piston (41K)of the linear drive means, covers (47) are arranged in such a way thatthe entire articulated lever (42) with its clamping roller (43) and aconnecting link (44, 45) lie within the covers (47) and are shieldedfrom the lower surface of the rotatable shut-off flap (17).
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein sealing elements are located between allshut-off flaps (3, 4, 17) of the openings to improve the closing of theopenings.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each openingportion (1E, 1A, 2A) of the chambers (1, 2) includes an opening and issurrounded by a sealing element configured to correspond to the contourof the opening.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein theopening in each opening portion (1E, 1A, 2A) is round in cross sectionand said each sealing element includes an O-ring (49).
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each pasta product is stored horizontallyin at least one funnel-shaped container (51A, 51B),the floor of eachfunnel-shaped container (51A, 51B) having a floor disposed to form adosing plate (52), said floor being ajustably mounted to vary the heightof the plate (52), a separation plate mounted above each dosing platefor portioning a desired amount of pasta from the main supply of pastaproducts, and a delivery vessel (55) is pivotally mounted below eachdosing plate, said vessel being pivotable through 90 degrees to transferthe pasta products to the cooking chamber (1).
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein said at least one supply containerincludes two supply containers (51A, 51B), said containers being mountedin spaced relation with spaced parallel walls forming a free space (CF)adjacent said free space (F) and pivotal into said free space.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 12, wherein each separation plate (54) hasa rounded shape and a rounded edge, when inserted into the associatedsupply container (51A, 51B), rests above a projection (56) withouttouching the wall of the container.
 15. The apparatus according to claim14, wherein between the separation plate (54) pushed into each supplycontainer (51A, 51B) and the projection (56), a gap (S) is present,which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the pasta productsbeing processed.